G&SWR 187 Class

The Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR) 187 class were a class of 0-4-2 steam locomotives designed for mixed traffic duties, by James Stirling in 1870. They formed a model for large numbers of similar 0-4-2 mixed traffic locomotives subsequently built on GSWR and other British railways.

G&SWR 187 Class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer James Stirling Builder Neilson and Company Build date 1870-1871 Total produced 20
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m) Length 50 ft 7 in (15.42 m) Loco weight 29.5 long tons (30.0 t) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 130 psi (900 kPa) Cylinders two, inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (430 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 11,439 lb
Career Withdrawn ? 1897-1917 Disposition All scrapped

Development

James Stirling’s predecessor at the GSWR had been his brother Patrick, who built five classes of 0-4-2 locomotive for freight duties between 1856 and 1866. After Patrick left to join the Great Northern Railway, James sought to develop a version capable of a wider range of duties. The class has been described by Casserley as ‘probably the first engines coming within the modern definition of ‘mixed traffic’ locomotives.’ Twenty examples of the class were built in 1870-72, but the design was further developed by Stirling with his 208 and 221 mixed traffic 0-4-2 classes, of which sixty were built between 1873 and 1878.

The use of the 0-4-2 wheel arrangement for mixed traffic locomotives was later followed by Patrick Stirling on the GNR and by William Adams on his Jubilee class for the London and South Western Railway 1887–1894.

Withdrawal

Seven examples were renewed by Manson in 1900-1901 and these survived until 1926-30. The remainder with withdrawn between 1897 and 1917.